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So I had great expectations for today with the amount of fish I saw here on Wednesday so my buddy drove up from Longview last night and we got everything ready for a fun day of chum fishing. Was a little concerned with the wind yesterday but they said it would die down today so was happy to wake at 5:30 and see clear skies with stars and only a slight breeze in Seatac. Filled up a thermos of coffee and put my Lake WA cutthroat gear in the truck as my plan was to be done by noon and then head over to the big lake to flush the salt out of my motors and troll for some fall sea runs.

Arrived at the Chico boat launch only to see it full of Indians waiting to launch there boats to retrieve their nets they have had out since Thursday I found out from a disgruntled fisherman standing at the launch and getting into a sort of heated exchange with the local natives. We saw a spot where we could get the Tin cup in but as soon as we were on the water realized it was a mistake because we did not see 1 fish jump and saw 2 Stella sea lions picking up salmon out of the nets that were so filled with chum they were sunk to the bottom and were strewn all over the bay.

Got back to the launch and watched in disgust as they were pulling up their nets, they just tossed back all the males and kept just the females for eggs. I wondered why they all had 5 gallon buckets and realized it was for the eggs so they can make money selling them. I know they are all about being one with the earth and nature but what a waste of a natural resource to just make a buck~ sort of goes against what they are suppose to stand for! Sorry, I don't usually go on a rant but today was really too much especially after making the drive all the way there just to be turned back.

Beware before you go you should check to see if there are any fish left~ now we could have waited for the tide to come in to see if that brought any in but that wouldn't have been until after 10:45 so went to plan B. That will be my next report from Lake WA but here's a picture of my chum eggs from Wednesday so that was why I was so excited to get some more!

schu7498

11/16/2013 7:36:00 PM

Hey salmonbarry, sorry you had to take the boat all the way over there to find out it was bad fishing. I went over there yesterday for in coming tide. There were so many nets in that bay we just had to laugh. One boat actually put a net completely across the mouthof chico. A sheriff came down and talked to a boat of natives. But i dont think they got in trouble. Hearing from some of the locals that live around there the natives are burning britches real fast. Apparently they have been doing sketchy things according to one lady for weeks. And the sheriffs get called on them all the time.

salmonbarry

11/16/2013 7:51:00 PM

Thanks Schu! Yea you could tell there was some tension with the locals and they definitely had an attitude about them. Let me know if you go back and it gets better as I would just as easily go back over there in my waders instead of the boat like last year to have some fun!

Goldrigger1

11/16/2013 9:58:00 PM

Greed then guilt. IMO, it is the story of the white man's dealings with Indians. The pendulum swung too far each time.

the piranha

11/17/2013 1:58:00 PM

That's why I stopped fishing the skokomish, remember to pinch your barbs so the fish have a chance.

salmonbarry

11/17/2013 3:45:00 PM

We were fishing the salt so barbs are always pinched and this in a different area but it was discouraging. Not giving up on this area though and with all the rain were are getting tomorrow may make another run over on Wednesday

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